NORTH BROOKFIELD — North Brookfield Savings Bank’s annual food-drive fundraiser, held from Oct. 1 through Oct. 31, helps provide much-needed food items to local neighbors and families in need.

For every item collected through the community, the bank will contribute $1, for a total of up to $3,000, to help fund the pantries’ operations. The bank’s goal is to collect at least 3,500 items in total, but the bank will also be contributing monetarily and is issuing a challenge to the community.

Community members are encouraged to drop off non-perishable food items, paper goods, toiletries, or any monetary donations at any of NBSB’s branches anytime throughout the month of October, with the proceeds going directly to local food pantries.

The branch locations are 9 Gilbert St. and 35 Summer St., North Brookfield; 100 West Main St., East Brookfield; 128 West Main St., West Brookfield; 40 Main St., Ware; 4 Daniel Shays Highway, Belchertown; and 2060 Main St., Three Rivers.

Examples of non-perishable and non-food items that pantries can use are paper towels, toilet paper, tissues, diapers, and baby wipes; deodorant, soap, toothbrushes, and toothpaste; dry and canned pasta and soups; canned meats, tuna, and salmon; peanut butter, jelly, tea bags, and ground coffee; canned vegetables and fruits; hot and cold cereals; rice; cake mixes, pancake mix, syrup, powdered milk, and granulated sugar; canned juices; baby food and baby formula; and granola and cereal bars.

“The unfortunate reality is that there are people who struggle with hunger close to home in our local communities. The food drive is a great opportunity for local community members and North Brookfield Savings Bank to work together to make a real difference in our communities by helping our neighbors,” said Nicole Syriac, Digital Marketing strategist at the bank. “It is always heartwarming to see the kindness and generosity displayed through this drive by our communities, and we are so grateful for the contributions they make each year.”

NORTH BROOKFIELD — The North Brookfield Savings Bank board of directors announced that Kaz Borawski has been appointed president and CEO, effective immediately.

“The board and I have been impressed by Kaz’s extensive and varied banking experience, and we look forward to continuing to work with Kaz to grow North Brookfield Savings Bank,” said Donna Boulanger, chairwoman of the bank’s board of trustees. “The board of directors has been impressed by his commitment to the bank, our employees, and the community.”

Borawski has more than 26 years of experience in industries including retail banking, investment banking, wealth management, and technology and operations at organizations such as JPMorgan Chase and MassMutual Financial Group. He has spent the last 13 years in community banking with United Bank, Merchants Bank, and Holyoke Credit Union before joining North Brookfield Savings Bank in February 2022 as chief financial officer.

Borawski holds a certificate from the New England School for the Financial Studies at Babson College, an MBA with a major in finance from Manhattan College in New York City, and a bachelor of business administration degree with a major in accounting from Baruch College, also in New York City.

“I would like to thank the board of directors for this opportunity to lead North Brookfield Savings Bank,” Borawski said. “Our bank has a valued team of employees who are dedicated to helping our customers with their financial needs, and I am proud to be the leader of this team. I look forward to building lasting relationships with our customers. North Brookfield Savings Bank is important to the communities we serve, and it has a long-standing tradition of excellence in customer service. The bank has enjoyed strong growth over the years and has a very strong capital position. I’m committed to continuing that legacy.”

NORTH BROOKFIELD — North Brookfield Savings Bank believes that each and every child, regardless of their financial circumstances, should have the opportunity to start the school year feeling confident, excited, and ready to learn. That is why the bank is kicking off the fifth year of its popular Back to School Supply Drive.

Throughout the month of August, North Brookfield Savings Bank will be collecting school supplies and monetary donations at all branch locations in North Brookfield, East Brookfield, West Brookfield, Ware, Belchertown, Palmer, and Three Rivers. All donations collected will be delivered to local public schools to be distributed to school children who may not have the needed supplies to start their year.

The bank kicked off the fundraiser by purchasing more than $500 in supplies. Branch employees, equipped with brightly patterned backpacks, lunchboxes, pencil cases, notebooks, and various other fun supplies, are getting creative with their back-to-school-themed tables, in hopes it will encourage those visiting the branch to donate as well.

Some suggested school-supply donation items that can be dropped at any North Brookfield Savings Bank branch location are new backpacks (unisex), lunchboxes, spiral notebooks, pocket folders, 12-inch standard rulers, #2 pencils, pencil sharpeners, pencil cases, colored pencils, washable markers, erasers, glue sticks, scissors, and tissues.

“North Brookfield Savings Bank is incredibly proud to once again host the Back to School Supply Drive. We want all children to begin the school year with the essential supplies they need, in turn giving them the confidence and enthusiasm that allows them to continue to learn successfully,” said Andrea Healy, first senior vice president and director of Human Resources. “It was so amazing to witness the generosity displayed during our first Back to School Supply Drive. Customers, community members, and our employees were so giving and really showed how much they care for the children of our schools. We look forward to seeing that same generosity this year.”